Elsie Budin Jonas, age 95, of Clarkson, Nebraska passed Sunday, May 29, 2022, at Faith Regional Health Services in Norfolk, Nebraska. Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, June 4th, at SS Cyril & Methodius Catholic Church in Clarkson with Father Matt Gutowski celebrating the Mass. Interment will be in Clarkson National Cemetery. Visitation will be on Friday, from 5:00 – 7:00 PM and continue on Saturday, from 9:30 AM until service time, all at the church. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the Clarkson Historical Museum or the Clarkson Opera House. Condolences may be sent to www.millerfh.com. Arrangements by Miller Funeral Home in Clarkson.
Elsie M. Budin Jonas was born on the family farm in Stanton County, Nebraska, on July 15, 1926, to James and Anna (Kyncl) Stepan, the youngest of four children. She attended School District #54 and graduated from Stanton High School in 1944. Elsie worked as a clerk at AJ Karel & Sons grocery store from 1944 to 1948. That’s where in that time that she met Lloyd L. Budin, her future husband. The couple was married on June 18, 1948, in Seward, Nebraska. They lived in Milford, Nebraska, where Lloyd finished trade school and then moved to Seward, Schuyler, and to Clarkson in 1957, where they opened Budin Body Shop in the early 1960s.
After the death of Lloyd from cancer in 1973 Elsie took it upon herself and took driving lessons. She then returned to clerk at Karel’s store until she married Alvin Jonas on January 26, 1979, in Clarkson. They lived on a farm northwest of Clarkson until retiring and moving into Clarkson in 1998. During this time, Elsie was diagnosed with acute leukemia and spent two months in an Omaha hospital. She was a 33-year cancer survivor. Alvin passed away September 21, 2000, of chronic leukemia and Elsie continued living in her own home till after her 90th birthday.
Elsie was a member of SS. Cyril and Methodius Church and its Altar Society, member of the Ladies Auxiliary Post 6419 and a life member of the Norfolk Antique Car Club where Lloyd was an active member. She enjoyed playing cards, especially Taroks and pitch, ladies card club, her cell phone!, making tied quilts, word searches, puzzles (doing a 300 piece one a day during covid), feeding the finches, TV game shows, collecting glass baskets, creamers, and sugars, salt and pepper collections, her bluebirds, and afternoon chats with her CCCC family. Most of all, her real passion was Czech music and loved to dance.
Elsie is survived by:
Daughter: Sharon (Robert) Cerv of Clarkson, NE
Adam (Ann) Cerv
Madison (Craig) Gall
Culleen Cerv (Seth Steinmeyer)
Quinn Steinmeyer
Jody Cerv Willison (Kris Evans)
Bentley Willison
Maxx Willison
Brittan Evans
Declan Evans
Daughter: Karen (Deon) Brabec Tiedtke of Clarkson, NE
Brad Brabec
Blaine Brabec
Kimberley (Russ) Scott
Taylor Stanley
Tanner Stanley
Travis Stanley
Raelynn Scott
Makenna Scott
Michael (Lori) Brabec
Gavin Brabec
Hayden Brabec
Jason (Tammy) Brabec
Kinley Brabec
Jeremy Brabec
Gracie Brabec
Hadley Brabec
Jason (Cris) Tiedtke
Ashley (Jordan) Evans
Conner (Cami) Tiedtke
Sara (Craig) McDowall
Haley Tiedtke
Addy McDowall
Daughter: Donna Praest of Norfolk, NE
Laurie Nissen (William Hall)
Abbie Hensley
Randy Hensley
Riley Hensley
Neil (Violet) Nissen Jr.
Sheri Praest (Tom Swierczyski)
Darrin Praest (Tiffany)
Gary (Jenny) Praest
Bridget Praest
Lilly Praest
Garret Praest
Kevin (Jen) Praest
Amy Praest
Audrey Praest
Colton Praest
Daughter: Judy (Larry) Lange Roots of Omaha, NE
Nicholas (Liz) Lange
Miles Lange
Colin Lange
James (Nora) Lange
Logan Roots (Misty Reeves)
Fianna Roots
Carmen Roots
Nova Roots
Scarlet Roots
Many nieces & nephews
Elsie was preceded in death by:
Parents: James & Anna Stepan
Husband: Lloyd Budin (1973)
Husband: Alvin Jonas (2000)
Granddaughter: Mary Praest (1970)
Great Granddaughter: Alayna Cerv Willison (2004)
Son-in-law: Dean J. Brabec (2020)
Brother: James Stepan Jr.
Sister: Adeline Briggs & Libbie Mastny